Sometimes, it just feels like the whole world is against you and you can't catch a break. That might be the reason why sometimes — only very rarely — the universe throws us a lifeline. There are all kinds of stories out there about people who just happened to be in the right place at the right time and ended up finding treasure someone threw out on the side of the curb. From fancy motorcycles in great condition to expensive mid-century furniture, here are some of the best finds we wish we would find ourselves. Who knows, if you keep your eyes peeled, you might stumble upon something just as valuable!
A Box Filled With Antique Coins And Money
Coin collectors probably dream of coming across something like this. Someone posted this photo online and said they were driving down a dirt road that people sometimes use to dump their trash. He happened to stop one day and found a box filled with old notes and coins, some of which are from countries that have long since dissolved. What are the odds someone just happened to stop on the day when there was actually something worth finding?
When they posted this photo, they added that most of the money was made anywhere from the 18th to the 20th centuries, but there was a coin that dated all the way back to the 17th century.
A Perfectly Sized Bed For Someone's Cat
At first glance, you might think someone found this cat on the side of the road, but this person already had the cat. Instead, they found this IKEA bed that was made for dolls. They brought it home, and it turned out to be the perfect size for their cat, who can be seen sleepily lounging away in this photo. This is actually a great idea for anyone who has a cat.
The bed looks like the perfect size, and we're sure there are larger beds if you cat happens to have put on a couple of extra pounds lately.
Original Dali Sketches For Free
It's not every day that you come across artwork from one of the most famous artists of the last century. However, that's just what happened to one worker who posted these sketches by Dali online. Apparently, their boss was cleaning out a family home, and he brought these in, along with a lot of other stuff, and said employees were free to take whatever they wanted. Someone with a good eye snagged these.
Dali's sketches aren't worth nearly as much as some of his paintings, but it's still a cool fine nonetheless, and the boss even said it was okay to keep them after the employee told them who the artist was.
A Liquor Cabinet That Was Carved By Hand
Here's another really cool find. Someone happened across this old liquor cabinet. Unlike other cabinets, this one was hand carved and you can see all of the intricate carvings in the photo. It's a bit hard to make out, but it looks like the whole cabinet is covered in all kinds of different scenes, while the edges are probably decorated in dragons or vines, which means it could've come from somewhere in Asia.
It also looks like the front part comes down like an old secretary or desk and gives a spot to mix your drinks, which is actually really cool.
Anyone Want A Free Motorcycle?
This one is almost unbelievable. Some lucky person happened to be riding around when they came across this bike with a "free" sign on it. They said that there was nothing wrong with it and that it ran fine. Apparently, the guy had just been laid off, and he planned on moving. However, he couldn't afford to take the bike with him, so he just parked it in the yard and gave it away.
That's some pretty incredible luck, not only to come across a free motorcycle but to come across a free motorcycle before anyone else. The guy must've just put the sign on it.
Someone Found And Restored A Beautiful Old Cabinet
It's not uncommon for someone to throw away or see an old piece of furniture lying in the trash and just leave it there. However, the person who posted this photo knew that this old cabinet would look great. With a new coat of paint and some paper on the inside of the shelves. It also looks like whoever the previous owner was, they'd decided to give it some paint in the past.
It also looks like they added new hardware wherever it was missing. We're glad they were able to spot the potential here and dig this cabinet out of the trash.
Someone Removed All The Paint And Uncovered This Marble Table
It's not uncommon to paint old furniture, but it is a bit uncommon to paint over marble-top tables. So, imagine this person's surprise when they started stripping the top on this table, probably expecting to find wood, only to find a beautiful marble top. The paint that was used also looks really thick, so whoever removed all of it probably spent hours trying to get it off. It looks like they also restored the wooden legs.
After this photo was posted, others commented to say that they had similar tables, and that they're actually nesting tables, meaning there's a set, usually of three, and they're stackable.
An Airplane Rocker Found On The Curb
This just might be the coolest rocker we've ever seen. Someone posted this photo and said that they found in the curb down the road from their house. They planned on sanding it down and then giving it to their godson as a gift, which is pretty cool. It even looks as though the propeller in the front might move. Imagine having a rocker like this if you were a little kid.
Not only is it just a really cool rocker, but that's a really cool godfather as well because it's going to take hours and hours to sand the entire thing down.
A Free Dresser And A New Paint Job
Dressers can be a bit pricey. However, that price shoots way up when you're talking about a new dresser and not an antique like the one pictured here. Someone happened to find this on the side of the road for free, and they decided to give it a new look. The finished product looks really good, and we can't imagine how long it took them to blend all of the paint.
Honestly, the paint job is more impressive than the dresser. But it's still a really great find and one that probably saved this person hundreds of dollars, if not more.
A Kitchen Aid Professional For Free
This is probably one of our favorite finds on this list. Someone threw out this Kitchen Aid Professional, along with the mixer and attachments, for some unknown reason. Luckily, someone else was driving by, saw it, and stopped to pick it up. These things are really known for their durability, and they usually last forever, so it's kind of weird that someone would just throw it out for no reason.
We're not entirely sure how much these go for, but you'd probably expect to pay over $300 for one, and as we said, they last forever and really take some of the pain out of baking.
A Sony 4K TV From The Trash
Most of the stuff on this list is relatively old, but not this. For some reason, someone threw out a pretty new-looking 4K TV. And from the image that the person who found it posted online, it looks as though it works just fine. They even said that they don't really watch much TV, but when they saw it, they had to stop and dig it out of the trash.
It's hard to believe that someone would just throw this out like that. Why not sell it and make a couple hundred bucks? Either way, at least someone found it.
An Old Chair Made New Again
This is one that we can understand why someone may have thrown it out. The person who posted the image said that it needed repairs, and you can tell that one of the arms is slightly drooping. Apparently, their daughter found it on the side of the road, and together, they worked to redo the upholstery and fix the arm using some wood glue. It probably took a bit of time to finish everything up.
However, not only did they get a great piece of furniture for free, but they said that they got to spend some quality time together and the daughter even got to practice new skills.
Finding A 1922 Sewing Machine
They really don't make some things like they used to. Just take a look at this Singer sewing machine from 1922. It looks like it was built to last, and all of the gold detailing on it is gorgeous. While it's not uncommon for something in one of these to break, it's usually a pretty easy fix, and once it is fixed, it lasts for a really long time.
Not only that, but they're getting quite expensive to buy if you are in the market for one, partly because once fixed, you can keep them in the family forever.
A Le Creuset Pot Someone Left In A Building
If you've never seen one of these before, then you'd probably be shocked to learn that they go for a couple hundred dollars or more per piece. That's because Le Creuset kitchenware is known to last for generations. Someone found this one in their building and said that another tenant left it in the disposal room. So, they ended up getting a $200 or more pot for completely free.
This is a slightly larger pot, too, so who knows how much it actually goes for brand new, and apparently these have a lifetime warranty so if anything is wrong with it, maybe they could send it in.
Mid Century Dressers Put Out On The Curb
Mid-century pieces are as popular right now as they've literally ever been, which has also caused their price to skyrocket, especially for older pieces. So, imagine this person's excitement when they saw a curb alert for the two mid-century dressers in this photo. Each one would probably go for around $300 or more, depending on where you're located, and probably as high as $500 or more for the long dresser.
However, from the way the dressers are set up in these photos, it sort of looks like the person who found them plans on selling them. If so, then they're getting nothing but profit.
Sturdy, Valuable Looking Craftsman Toolbox
If you've ever bought tools, then you know just how expensive they can be. Toolboxes are the same, but this lucky person looked over while driving and saw that someone had stuck this Craftsman toolbox by the side of the road with a sign that read "free." It's a smaller one, so it's probably not incredibly expensive, but it's still a great find, and they're made to last a lifetime.
Tools are one of those things that you're always going to have to pay a lot for, whether you buy them brand new or go to a garage sale.
A Very Expensive Plant In A Cheap Box
We're not sure exactly what kind of plant this is, but we do know that after this photo was posted, others commented that these go for a couple hundred dollars in the US. The person who posted the photo said that they saw it sticking out of the trash and when they went to go dig it out, the owner walked outside. Luckily, it was just to offer them a box to take it in.
We're also not entirely sure why the plant is so expensive, but maybe it just doesn't grow wild in the US, and there are some import bans on them or something.
A Lane Cedar Chest With Shelves
Old cedar chests used to be incredibly common, and one of the best brands you could get was Lane. However, they're usually not found with their original shelves, and cedar has a habit of drying out and splitting over the years. So, this curbside find is really great. You can almost smell the cedar just by looking at the photo. It even looks like it has it's originally tags on the inside.
That makes us think that it was possibly just stored for years and never used, before someone decided to free up some space and get rid of it out in the road.
Nice Art Supplies And Glasses From Outside An Apartment
We're not exactly sure how much art supplies go for, but we do know that some of them can get really pricey. The set in this photo looks really nice, and it even comes with brushes and a pair of Lous Vuitton glasses. Someone found all of this stuff in a trash bag outside of an apartment and posted the photo online to show off their haul, which is really cool.
They said that some of the paints were in rough shape, so they probably couldn't be used, but all of the pencils looked fine, as did the brushes and the pair of glasses.
A Drop Leaf Table Made From Oak
This table just happened to pop up on the curb at exactly the right time. The finder posted this photo and said that they'd been looking for a table for their kitchen for a couple of weeks before they happened to drive by this drop leaf that was left outside. It doesn't look extremely old from the legs, but it does look really well-built. The top is made from oak, which is sure to last.
It also has a really nice color. It's also just a really great size for doing just about anything, whether you want to use it to have your meals on or to work.
A Free Chair The Thrift Store Couldn't Sell
Sometimes, it's just hard to get rid of things. A thrift store was having trouble selling this chair, but as soon as they put a "free" sticker on it, someone grabbed it up. A lot of people commented and said that they would've paid a lot of money for it, but we guess it just depends on where you're at and what kind of clientele comes through the store.
Considering how all it is, the fabric is in really good condition, and it doesn't look like it needs a thing, which is really rare with these types of old chairs.
It Was Cleaning Day And The Legos Had To Go
If you have kids, then you know how hard it can be to get them to keep their rooms clean and their toys organized. It's extremely hard if they happen to have a lot of Legos. So, that may be why one parent decided to give away this tub filled with all kinds of different Lego parts. It looks like it was all just thrown in the bucket and given like that.
It's a great find for someone since Legos are really expensive. But we bet some lucky kid was pretty happy when their parents came home with this big tote of toys.
A Steamer Trunk Turned Coffee Table
They say that you find the best things out by the curb on garbage day, which makes sense. A neighbor picked up this old steamer trunk from someone down the road. You can't really do too much with them today, but they do make for great decorations, and this one was turned into a coffee table. Best of all, you can open it up and store things inside if you need more space.
It also goes really well with the rest of their furniture in the living room, which is a bit weird considering how old it is compared to everything else.
A Box Full Of Classic Records
Records have been having a comeback over the last decade. So, we're kind of surprised someone just decided to toss all of these out into the road. Well, not exactly out into the road, but they did throw them away. A person saw them and stopped to pick them up and take them home. Of course, after this was posted, everyone commented about all of the memories they had of listening to some of these albums.
We're sure most of these probably aren't worth huge sums of money, but some are a bit harder to find and you'd probably pay around $5 or $10 for the more popular ones.
Someone Found This IKEA Chair And Reupholstered It
This small chair from IKEA was originally made for kids and it looks a bit boring as is. However, someone found it out by the road and brought it home, making sure to redo the fabric. They completely changed the look of the entire chair and they said that their dog now uses it as a place to nap, or as a throne. The only thing the dog needs now is a crown.
The fabric they used is also really cool, but unfortunately, they didn't say where they got it from. Regardless, the chair looks great, and so does the dog.
An Older Peacock Chair
We love these chairs. Not only are they overly elaborate, but they're also really comfortable. These types of chairs are usually made out of wicker or rattan, although you can sometimes find them made from iron. And they're usually really expensive. This one is a bit more elaborate than most, but the person who found it apparently didn't pay a dime. They said they were waiting in traffic when they saw it on the curb.
The back on this one is especially nice since they usually have small holes or tears there. But this one looks like it's in perfect shape. Whoever found this was lucky.
A Stromberg Carlson Radio That Was Thrown Out
Can you imagine how many nights someone, or a family, sat by this old radio and listened to the news from around the world? It's kind of crazy to think about now, but these use to be super popular before TVs came along and changed the way most people were entertained or informed. Anyway, this one is from the early 1940s, and someone had just thrown it out on the side of the road.
Apparently, it needs a bit of work and restoration, which can be expensive, but the cabinet itself still looks like it's in great condition, and it'd definitely be worth fixing up.
Someone Found This Really Unique Table And Repainted It
We've seen a lot of furniture before, but this table is pretty unique. The curves sort of remind us of mid-century modern furniture, but it's a bit too curvy for that. It's probably from a bit earlier, during the Art Deco period. It was sitting out on the curb when someone spotted it and thought that it'd make for a nice plant stand. They turned out to be right, and after a fresh coat of paint, it looks better than new.
It looks like a perfect table to use as a plant stand, as there's even room on the bottom shelve for a couple of magazines and whatnot.
Coming Across Three Snowboards In The Trash
Skiing and snowboarding can be really expensive sports. The person who posted this photo said that they'd been trying to save up for weeks to buy their own snowboard and that they'd had to borrow from friends while learning. However, on trash day, they came across three that someone had thrown out by the road. That's incredibly lucky. We're glad they ended up finding it and not someone else who doesn't ski.
The one in the middle and the one on the left look like they've been used a bit, but the one on the right looks practically brand new. And even if they do have some dings, they're perfectly fine.
A Brand New Wrench Set Anyone?
We've said this for other photos on this list, but tools are expensive. They usually cost a lot of money because they're made to last forever, or at least for a very long time. There's not many ways to cheap out on making them, since their purpose is to take punishment and get the job done. This person happened across a brand new set of wrenches while they were walking down the road.
We mean, they may not be brand new, since they look like they've been rearranged and used, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with them and they couldn't have been bought too long ago.
Someone Threw Out This Piece Of Art
This one is a bit sad because you just know someone had spent a lot of time making this, maybe even as a gift for someone else. Luckily, it didn't make it to the landfill because someone saw it on the side of the road and pretty much saved it. It looks as though someone made it using cloth, perhaps from old blankets or clothes. It's a pretty cool little piece.
If you're curious, this is called long stitch needlepoint, according to some of the people who commented after this photo was posted online, and apparently, it's a pretty common pastime.
This Old Daybed Was Tossed And Found
This is a really cool piece of furniture. It's an old daybed that looks like it was made out of maple or walnut. Someone just decided to get it for free instead of just going out and buying some cushions for it, which is a bit of a shame because it has a really great shape. The legs and arms are both kind of elegant looking, and we're sure it's going to look great once it has cushions.
After this photo was posted, a lot of people said that they had similar daybeds for outside, but we hope this one is put up in the house somewhere so it doesn't ruin.
Someone Found This Small Credenza On The Curb
The word credenza isn't used a whole lot anymore, but it basically just refers to a small cabinet that's usually a bit longer than it is taller. They come in all different shapes and sizes, but this particular one is a Danish credenza, hence the clean lines. Anyway, someone posted this photo and said they found it one the side of the curb while they were on their way to work.
They stopped, threw it in the car, and brought it home with them. It's a really nice piece and you could use it for just about anything if you need storage.
A Leather Armchair Someone Loaded At 12AM
No this wasn't stolen, (at least not that we know of). They loaded it up in the middle of the night because someone placed it outside to be picked up on trash day the next morning. Not wanting to risk someone else finding it, the person who posted this photo had a friend help him load it into the truck, and they took it home. It's a really interesting color.
They also said that the whole thing was leather. If so, then it was probably pretty pricey when it was first bought. There were only a few knicks and dings on it.
A Before And After Of A Roadside Coffee Table
This little coffee table was placed out by the road by the previous owners. Luckily, someone saw it and dragged it back home with them, where they went to work sanding it down and giving it a darker stain. After finishing, they posted the photos online, and it looks a whole lot better, in our opinion. It's obviously made from pine (at least, parts of it), but that yellow stain was just a bit much.
The darker color goes better with the floors they have, and it'll age nicely. Plus, you can't really beat free. It just took a bit of work to turn it into something usable.
A Free Washer And Dryer Upgrade
Here's another happy story. These photos were posted online by someone who said that their washer and dryer had just gone out and that they didn't really have the money to buy new ones. Thankfully, someone else just happened to put their washer and dryer out by the curb not long after. The woman went and knocked on the door to ask them if they worked, and the people said they did.
So, they loaded them up, took them home, and didn't have to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a brand-new washer and dryer. The universe was really looking out for them.
Before And After Of A Found Peanut Cart
Firstly, we've never seen a machine that dispenses roasted peanuts. The whole concept is really cool in and of itself. Secondly, we're glad whoever found this knew how to restore old machines because the after photo looks really great. When they found it, there was some rust, and all of the colors were fading out. They added some new paint, cleaned it up a bit, and now they have a nice conversation starter.
This would be really cool in the garage or on the outside patio if you entertain guests a whole lot. It looks like they even added some finials to the top.
Someone Scored A New, Expensive Dog Crate
Most dog kennels are pretty small and made out of wire. However, this one is really nice. It has a wooden frame and even patterned doors. The person who posted the image said that a neighbor was throwing it out and offered to give it to them for free. Luckily, they were in the market for one, so they took and now their dog has a fancy new place to sleep.
We aren't too sure how much something like this would cost, but we do know the price you'd expect to pay for a regular kennel, and this one is a whole lot nicer.
A Collection Of New Christmas Ornaments
While Christmas ornaments are only brought out once a year, having a nice set can save you from having to go out and spend a whole lot of money every year. The ornaments in this photo were being thrown out, so someone ended up getting a whole collection for free. Not only that, but they also look like they're really nice. Just take a look at the cat ornament they're holding in their hand.
The ones in the background also look pretty expensive. There's no telling how much all of it's worth, but it definitely wasn't cheap when it was first bought.
Curb Alert China Cabinet For Free
After seeing someone post a curb alert with a bunch of different items, this person swooped in and got the china cabinet. It looks like it fits their space really well, and the black and wood cabinet goes with the other stuff they have in their kitchen. They've also found a really unique way to use it, storing books and what looks like art supplies and other things inside.
It's not an old cabinet, but it fits their space really well, and it didn't cost a thing. It also makes us wonder what they were using there before they brought the cabinet home.